In yet another instance of a tiff between ruling Congress and Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayansamy has protested against her instructions to officials to act on complaints from the public through WhatsApp and warned them of disciplinary action.
The administration, he told reporters here, had not recognised 'WhatsApp communication' as most of the time information through this medium was found fake and misleading.
Narayanasamy said he had instructed officials to first bring the complaints to his notice, the Ministers concerned, the Chief Secretary and Secretaries before acting on them.
Officers should act in consonance with provisions of the Rules of Business of Puducherry government Act, 1963 and not immediately take action on complaints through WhatsApp as asked by the Lt Governor, he said.
Narayanasami also pointed out that routine administration is to be carried out by the government, which had been clearly stated by the Union Home Ministry.
"If the Lt Governor feels that complaints can be acted on by officials, she only exposes her ignorance in running the administration," the Chief Minister said.
Narayanasamy warned officials acting on such complaints that they would face serious disciplinary action if they did otherwise.
He referred to a recent incident of a WhatsApp message which said a cooperative bank in neighbouring Tirubhuvanai village was looted by a gang after breaking open the locker.
The police probe revealed there was no robbery but only a futile attempt by the gang and that the cash was safe, he said
Hence Whatsapp based complaints cannot be acted upon and complaints could be given in writing or orally by aggrieved persons to the government, he added.
Bedi and Narayanasamy have been at loggerheads over various issues, including medical admissions, civic problems and induction of three nominated MLAs belonging to BJP e since she became Lieutenant Governor on May 22, 2016.
The Chief Minister has often criticised her with 'interfering' in routine administration.
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